Imaging element comprising an electrically-conductive layer with enhanced abrasion resistance

Abstract

Imaging elements, such as photographic, electrostatographic and thermal imaging elements, are comprised of a support, an image-forming layer and an electrically-conductive layer comprising electronically-conductive fine particles, such as antimony-doped tin oxide particles, and gelatin-coated water-insoluble polymer particles. The use of gelatin-coated water-insoluble polymer particles as a binder in the electrically-conductive layer facilitates the preparation of stable coating compositions and provides a layer with a high degree of conductivity at low concentrations of electronically-conductive fine particles and with excellent abrasion resistant properties.

We claim: 
     
       1. An imaging element for use in an image-forming process; said imaging element comprising a support, an image-forming layer and an electrically-conductive layer; said electrically-conductive layer comprising electronically-conductive fine particles and gelatin-coated water-insoluble polymer particles having a gelatin/polymer weight ratio of from 5/95 to 40/60. 
     
     
       2. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronically-conductive fine particles are composed of a doped-metal oxide, a metal oxide containing oxygen deficiencies, a metal antimonate, or a conductive nitride, carbide or boride. 
     
     
       3. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronically-conductive fine particles are antimony-doped tin oxide particles. 
     
     
       4. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electronically-conductive fine particles have an average particle size of less than about 0.3 μm and a powder resistivity of 10 5  Ω· cm or less. 
     
     
       5. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gelatin-coated water-insoluble polymer particles have an average diameter of from about 10 nm to about 1000 nm. 
     
     
       6. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gelatin-coated water-insoluble polymer particles have an average diameter of from 20 nm to 500 nm. 
     
     
       7. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said gelatin-coated water-insoluble polymer particles have a glass transition temperature of at least 20° C. 
     
     
       8. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water-insoluble polymer particles are selected from the group consisting of polymers of styrene, derivatives of styrene, alkyl acrylates, derivatives of alkyl acrylates, alkyl methacrylates, derivatives of alkyl methacrylates, olefins, vinylidene chloride, acrylonitrile, acrylamide, derivatives of acrylamide, methacrylamide, derivatives of methacrylamide, vinyl esters, vinyl ethers and urethanes. 
     
     
       9. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water-insoluble polymer particles are particles of a copolymer of ethyl acrylate and sodium styrene sulfonate. 
     
     
       10. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water-insoluble polymer particles are particles of a copolymer of ethyl methacryate and sodium styrene sulfonate. 
     
     
       11. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said water-insoluble polymer particles are particles of a copolymer of methyl methacrylate and sodium styrene sulfonate. 
     
     
       12. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrically-conductive layer comprises 50 volume % or less of said electronically-conductive fine particles. 
     
     
       13. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrically-conductive layer comprises 35 volume % or less of said electronically-conductive fine particles. 
     
     
       14. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said electrically-conductive layer comprises up to 20 weight percent of additional gelatin based on the total dry weight of said gelatin-coated water-insoluble polymer particles. 
     
     
       15. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dry coating weight of said electrically-conductive layer is in the range of from about 100 to about 1500 mg/m 2 . 
     
     
       16. An imaging element as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support is a polyethylene terephthalate film. 
     
     
       17. A photographic film comprising: (1) a support;   (2) an electrically-conductive layer which serves as an antistatic layer overlying said support; and   (3) a silver halide emulsion layer overlying said electrically-conductive layer; said electrically-conductive layer comprising electronically-conductive fine particles having a gelatin/polymer weight ratio of from 5/95 to 40/60 and gelatin-coated water-insoluble polymer particles.   
     
     
       18. A photographic film comprising: (1) a support;   (2) a silver halide emulsion layer on one side of said support;   (3) an electrically-conductive layer which serves as an antistatic layer on the opposite side of said support; and   (4) an anti-curl layer overlying said electrically-conductive layer; said electrically-conductive layer comprising electronically-conductive fine particles having a gelatin/polymer weight ratio of from 5/95 to 40/60 and gelatin-coated water-insoluble polymer particles.   
     
     
       19. A photographic film comprising a cellulose ester or polyester support, an image-forming layer comprising a silver halide emulsion, and an electrically-conductive layer which serves as an antistatic layer; said electrically-conductive layer comprising electronically-conductive fine particles having an average particle size of less than about 0.3 μm and a powder resistivity of 10 5  Ω· cm or less and gelatin-coated water-insoluble polymer particles having an average diameter of from 20 nm to 500 nm and a gelatin/polymer weight ratio of from 5/95 to 40/60.